Comment on “Sandbox modeling of evolving thrust wedges with different preexisting topographic relief: Implications for the longmen Shan thrust belt, eastern Tibet” by C. Sun et al.

Abstract

Sun et al.'s (2016) sandbox modeling takes preexisting topographic relief into account for faulting activity at the compressional orogenic belt, which promotes better understanding of Longmenshan thrust belt's (LTB) orogenic process and faulting behavior. However, topographic relief in sandbox modeling is contradictory to central LTB's actual topographic relief, and as a result, both the comparison between sandbox modeling and actual tectonics and topography and the conclusion that Xiaoyudong Fault is a tear fault should be reconsidered. Actually, based on Sun et al.'s (2016) sandbox modeling, the Xiaoyudong Fault cannot be treated as a tear fault.